Short course
Italian: Advanced – Part 1
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
28/09/2026 - 30/11/2026
Study format:
In-person weekly
Level:
Advanced
Fees:
£315.00
This course is for learners who have studied Italian at Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and are ready to develop their proficiency towards the advanced (C1) level. It aims to refine linguistic accuracy, expand expressive range, and build confidence in handling complex, nuanced communication in Italian across social, leisure, and professional contexts. Through a combination of discussion, authentic materials, and targeted real-life tasks, students will further improve their proficiency in the language and deepen their understanding of contemporary Italian culture. While the primary emphasis is on developing listening and speaking skills, you will also engage in structured practice in reading and writing in class and independently through self-study to support overall language development.
Is this the right level course for you?
To benefit from the course learners will have done one of the following:
- Completed our 'Italian: Upper-Intermediate – Part 2' course or equivalent, or
- Studied Italian at A-level (or equivalent qualification), or
- Achieved B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in Italian.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Level and demands
Pitched at B2+/C1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), completion of this course supports learners’ progression within the advanced level.
Find out more about our language levels.
Course aims
To support learners in developing their proficiency, enabling them to communicate with increasing fluency, spontaneity and precision.
Course objectives
- Interact with fluency and spontaneity in extended exchanges, including discussions and debates.
- Express and respond to viewpoints effectively, sustaining coherent interaction and adapting language to different contexts and levels of formality.
- Extend and refine vocabulary and grammar control for greater accuracy and precision.
- Use appropriate discourse markers and communication strategies to maintain and develop interaction.
- Build strategies for clarifying, reformulating, and negotiating meaning.
Programme details
Course starts Monday 28 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 4.30-6.30pm.
The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.
Week 1: Language and thought: cultural differences.
Week 2: Podcasts. Note taking skills.
Week 3: A century of Italians: identity in evolution.
Week 4: Il senso della famiglia: old and new.
Week 5: Doppi sensi: dealing with linguistic misunderstandings.
Week 6: Body language and memes.
Week 7: L’arte della felicità. Discussing emotional states and attitudes.
Week 8: Letter writing and newspaper style.
Week 9: Understanding registers: clean or foul language?
Week 10: Standard vs colloquial Italian.
Grammar Points
- Relative pronouns to improve fluency.
- The use of subordinate clauses in an oral context.
- Constructions with the infinitive.
- The sequence of tenses in the past.
- Verbs with double auxiliary constructions.
Key Functions
- Adapting language to different registers.
- Discussing current affairs.
- Defending one’s own opinions.
- Developing convincing arguments.
- Expressing time nuances.
Teaching methods
You will learn through practical, task‑based classroom activities that encourage the active use of the target language. Sessions typically integrate meaningful scenarios, pair and small‑group work, and collaborative problem‑solving in a supportive and friendly environment. These tasks bring together speaking, listening, reading, and writing, enabling you to apply the language purposefully in real‑world situations.
The course is designed to build your spoken and listening abilities while deepening your understanding of cultural nuances, register variation, and common usage. We will work with new grammatical structures through meaningful, communicative tasks, and you will continue developing your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:
-
interact with fluency and spontaneity in extended exchanges on familiar and less familiar topics.
- actively participate in discussions, expressing and responding to viewpoints clearly and fluently.
-
read and critically understand a wide range of long and authentic texts, identifying implicit meanings, nuances, and stylistic features.
-
produce clear, well-structured, and detailed written texts on a range of topics, using a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures with a degree of accuracy, adapting style and register to different contexts and purposes.
Assessment methods
You will be set optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.
Dr Francesca Magnabosco
Dr Francesca Magnabosco graduated from the University of Turin, Italy (BA; MPhil) and obtained her DPhil in Italian literature from the University of Oxford. For the University of Oxford, she works as a lecturer in Italian Renaissance literature (Pembroke College) and in Italian language (sub-Faculty of Italian); she is tutor in Italian at Oxford Lifelong Learning. She is also a writer and translator.
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £315.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Dieci C1 (Alma Edizioni); units 1-5 / Rosella Bellagamba
Textbooks
To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:
- Dieci C1 (Alma Edizioni); units 1-5, Rosella Bellagamba ISBN: 978-88-6182-850-6
Module code: O26P577XIW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.
